Valve for controlling landing gear of aircraft



Feb. 6, 1940. Q WEAVER VALVE FOR CONTROLLING LANDING GEAR OF AIRCRAFT Filed Feb. 17, 1938 4-Shets-Sheet l HIIIIE Q HIITIlllilIII'IIIIIIllllllfllllllllllllllllll t Emmi/W INVEN TOR. 6' 644F153 ATM/W54,

g 6] I I A ORNEY Feb. 6, 1940.

C. E. WEAVER VALVE FOR CONTROLLING LANDING GEAR OF AIRCRAFT Filed Feb. 17, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 [nvenior LfiarlesE newer Feb. 6, 1940. I Q WEAVER 2,189,094

VALVE FOR CONTROLLING LANDING GEAR OF AIRCRAFT Filed Feb. 17, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 6, 1940. WEAVER 2,189,094

VALVE FOR CONTROLLING LANDING GEAR or AIRCRAFT Filed Feb. 17, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ITLUBTLOP CZesE i atentecl Feb. 6, 1940" uNrrizo STATES PAT N OFFICE- VALVE. FOR CONTROLLING LANDING GEAR F AIRCRAFT I Charles E. Weaver, Watertowri, Y.

- Application February 17, 1938, Serial No. 191,084 I 9 Claims. (01. 217-50) This invention relates to valve means for con- "trol of landing gear of aircraft and it consists in :the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed. -25 It is arr-object of the inventionto provide a valve construction forremote control of 'fluid means under pressure-for actuating mechanism .to a desired position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a valve of novel construction which may be readily actuated to positively move the landing gear to ataxiing, a water-landing, or to a retracted position. I

It is afurther object, of the invention to provide a valve in whichthe valve proper is movable to the various operative positions by means- I of a single control lever, and maintained in such position until positively moved by the operator. Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following dedescription and accompanying drawings, where- 1 Figure 1. is a diagrammatic viewof the valve illustrating its connection with the operating piston-and cylinder. 1

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the valve. Figure 2a is a detail of the valve operating "means. 1

Figure 3 is a cross section'onthe line 3- 3 of Figure 2. I Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 'of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of 'Figure2. Figure 6 is a detail view of the detent means for theactuating handle.

Figure 7 is a top plan'view of a valve for-con I trol of the fifth or taxi wheel of an aircraft.

one of the air looks. I I I v Attention first invited to Figures 1 to 6, wherein'I have illustrated a practical installation and-construction of the main control valve, espeg cially adapted for control of landing gear of craft as set forth in my pending application filed November 30, 1937, Serial Number 177,363.

. There is illustrated in Figure 1 the control valve it having an operating lever 65 for/control of fluid, under pressure, to the actuator cylinder l2, the latter being associated with" cylinders 13 of respective landing gear I4 of the aircraft, the movement of the piston 15', controlled by the valve in determining the movement of the gear means M, as will be understood as the descrip- I tion proceeds.

Referring particularly to Figure 2,. the valve l0 comprises a base l6 having apertured-foot members i! for attachment to the dash' of the craft, in easy access of the pilot. The base IS-is medial: bore l8, a depending boss I9,'and-.an an nular circumscribin'g upwardly directed flange 20 and a horizontal flange 2l affording; means for attachment .of an upper portion of the valve, which will be understood as the description proceeds.

The baselfi is'of substantial thickness, and extending radially therefrom are ports 22 and 23,

each of which terminates in branched ports 24 and 25 and 26 and2l respectively, theports 22 and 23 being threaded for connection with the actuator cylinder l2 as will be described.

The flange .20 extends a distance above the upper face of the base l6, and'thepOrts 2425-'- 26 and 21 open thereupon, and revolubly seated upon the face within the flange 20 there is a rotatable disk valve 28. The valve.28 comprises oppositely disposed hollow trunnions 29 and 30, the former seating within an annular recess 3| wardly flush with the top of the valve for a purfor mounting of aplug valve, as will beexplained hereinafter. 1

.The valve 2 8 is of a thickness less than the height of, the flange 20, affording a snug seating engagement of a head member 33; the lower face of which seats upon the upper face of the disk .valve 28,. the head member, being held'in such position by virtue'of an annular flange 34 com-.-

plemental to the flange 2| of the base, the two flanges, being apertured and threaded-for reception of fastening bolts 35. The head member 33 comprises anxannular of the base 16, while the trunnion 30 extends uppose presently to be explained, and it will be seen ,from a consideration of Figure 2' that thextrunnion terminates in areduced angular aperture 32 H chamber-36 defined by an outer-walland a central boss 31 of a diameter circumscribing the trunnion 30 of the valve 28 and the .upper wall 5' preferably in the form .of a casting having'a v of the chamber 36 terminates flush with the trun- Attention is. now invited to Figure 3 wherein it is shown that the upper face of the base l6 has an arcuate shaped groove 84 disposed in alignment with ports 25 and 26, and an exhaust port leading from the groove M, the function of which will be explained hereinafter. 1

It will be noted that the ports 42 and 43 of the valve 28 have rearwardly tapering recesses 46 and '47, therecesses extending concentric with the valve 28, and upon the underside of the valve 28'the ports 42 and 43 have semi-circular grooves 48 -an'd 59 extending in the same direction as the recesses Mend t! and of the same length. There is alsoa groove 5% positioned to register selectively with ports 2544 or ports 26 and 44.

'For the purpose of equalizing pressure in the cylinder l2, a port 48aand 48b is formed in the valve '28, the port 68a establishig'connection with mounted'in the bore IBand trunnions 29 an'ditfl,

the .valvehaving a squared upper end 52 complemental to the aperture'32, the .end terminating well outwardly'of the valve proper. The body of the valve 5| is of lesser length than the bore |8v stopping inwardly thereof, the-boss 19 being interiorly threaded to receive a screw plug *53.

A helical spring 55 is seated between the plug 53 and the lower end of the. valve. to retain the valve in its uppermost position, the spring being yieldablehow'ever to permit downward longitudinal movement of the Valve at times. i

Adjacent the lower end of thevalve 5| 2, circumscribing groove 56 is formed normally in registry. with ports fil and 58, the latter being threaded for coupling of pipes 59 and 60 respectively.

Extending axially of. the valve 5| there is, a

port 6|, the upper end opening upon the periphery of the valve for registry at times with ports 62 and 63 of the trunnion 3i] and central boss 31 respectively. The lower end of the port 6| also opens upon the periphery of the valve and registers with the port 5'! when the valve is depressed.

When the ,valve- 5| is depressed the port 58 will be closed, and is in communication with the groove 56 only in such position of the valve as to exhaust air from the air release locks;

In Figure 2a, I have illustrated a means for operating the valves 28 and 5|,and this consists in a cap 62', the base'plate 62a being axially apertured to receive-theisquared end 52 of the valve 5| .therethrough, the: plate 62a lying flush upon ment of the plug valve 5| upon downward move; ment of the lev'er65. i

It should be noted that since the cap 62, is

rigidly connected. with the trunnion 30 by means of thebolts or other fastenings 63', the disk valve 28 may be rotatedby means of the lever 65 to cause registration of the various ports. However, in order that accidental movement of the lever 65 may not be affected, I; providea safetydetent, generally indicatedat 51 a ;e1ea 1 .1 shown in Figure 6.

Referring particularly to is shown as projecting througha-vertical slot 68 formed in the wall69'of the cap, permitting ver- .tical movements of the lever in order to effect reciprocation of the plug valve 5|. A dog 10 is pivoted upon a pin 1| in the wall 69, one end 12 "lying in the path ,ofthe lever 64, the other end tions it (seeFig. 2) suitably spaced.andformed; 'in the" upper wallof, the head.;-m-ember-.33, .the

The pin 15 fnormallyprojects through an Figure 6, the lever 64 spring El normally projecting-the pin'into one of the recessesiifir obviouslyathe cap willr be positively held against accidental rotatio-n,-and

may only be released by'a downward movement traction of the pin 15. I i The operation? The operation will be readily understjood from- 35 the following description, attention first being directed to Figure 1 for an un-derstandingof .the

pipe connectiom between "the-actuator cylinder of the lever 65 whichmovementnwill cause-M 3 |2,the valve [I i3 and the landinggear air locks1-| 3.

Theport 22 is connectedwithone-endz'flqffithe cylinder i2 by a pipe 18; the-port :23 bin'gconnected to the opposite endC- ofxthe cylinderqby a pipe 19; the'air locks l3'being connectedfor .simultaneous distribution of air by pipes 80 connected with-the port: 51; and air under =pres-' sure being supplied to the valve in through pipe by the plunger 82'whichis engaged in'anotch cm of a locking seg nent 82b of the air loclrs |3 and the control lever G5 in a central position,- all ports ofthe valve ware closed.

Now, the control lever $5 is moved downwardly ing a camming action on the stem-52 of the valve through the slot fifi the fulllength thereof, effect-Q 5 5|, moving thevalve downwardly connectinggport 6|.ofthe valvewithports 62 and 63,.establish-;

ing a communication with the. air chamber; 35, thus forming a direct connection'withport ;5-'|"- permitting air-to pass by, Way of pipes fifl to the.

airlock's '13 causing outward 'inovement or the. v plungers 82 against the action of springs}83..

Thelan'ding gear i4 is thus free t'o'move. II-The movement of the lever 65 automaticallydisengag'es the pin -'|5', allowing rotaryin'ovement" ofthe cap 52', but obviously, this rotaryrnov m'e'nt tracted and the'air locks released, j To raise or retract the landingfgear 4, "'th'e lever 65 being held in its lowermost positionith e.

. 45 8| connected tortheport 38 of the airchamber 3&3. M f''' Starting from ground position of the landing gear M, the latter beingloclged against movement mitting air to pass through port 23 and pipe I9 to vportatthe end C of the cylinder I2. Exhaust of air from the cylinder passes from end A by way of pipe I8 to port 22 of the valve base, then through port 25, through recess 50 in the lower gear, from ground to retracted position, and in the meantime, the piston 85 has travelled from end .0 to A of the cylinder I2, imparting rotation of. the shaft 86 by virtue of the rack and gear 81. .The shaft 86 is suitably geared to thegear segments 88 of the landing gear, and obviously, the latter will be moved to retracted locked position when the plunger 82 engages the notch 820 of the locking segment. 1

The reverse cycle, or from retracted to ground position, is similar to the one already described. Starting from the zero or central position of the lever 05, the lever is moved downwardly, disen- This movement urges the valve 5| down so that the ports 0 I 62-53 register. with the air chamber 36, and at the lower end ofv the valve 5|, port BI registers with port 51 in the-base. With the ports thus registered air will pass through the pipes to'release the air locksuI-3 permitting movement of the landing gear 14. :The ports named are maintained in registry and the control lever 65 is moved to the left, approximately 45 degrees to the indicator mark 80. .Such movement will rotate the disk valve 28 to register ports 40-42 and 24, and air from the chamber 30 passes through ports 40, the tapered -recess 46,.port 42, lower recess 48 and 24 through pipe I8 to the end A of the actuator cylinder I2.

At this. position of the parts, air exhausts from the opposite end (C) of the cylinder I2 by way .of pipe I9 to port connection 23, the air passing up through port 26 to recess50, thence to recess 44 and to pipe connection at the outlet port I5. In "the-meantime, piston has travelled from A back to- C, and the return cycle is completed.

For positioning the landing gear in a waterlanding position, starting with the landing gear ina retracted position, the control lever 65 being at the zero position, the lever 65 is moved downwardly as in the previous operations, and moved slowly to the left about 25 degrees to the indicator mark 90. The lever 65 is now moved back to the right to the indicator position 9| to an equalizing position. With this position of the parts, exhaust ports are closed and the cylinder I2 is admitting air through both pipes 18-49 and the piston 85 will be at a medial position of the cylinderas indicated by the reference character B, the end-A of the cylinder admitting air through "port 40,. the tapered recess 46, the port 24 and pipe18. Air is admitted to the C end of the cylinder through port 4|, the equalizing ports 48b; port 21 and the pipe-19.

The landing gear can also be brought from ground position to central or water position, by moving the control handle from central or zero position to the right about 25 degrees and then back to the right hand equalizing position, these positions of the lever 65 being determined by the indicator marks 92-93.

The object of the equalizing point is that when the Wheels of the landing gear are on the water or in a horizontal position, a semi-rigid means for maintaining them in such position is provided, when desired, and, still permitting flexibility to prevent sudden strain on the landing gear such as would be caused by rough water, any

Qvited to these figures. It will be noted that the valve here shown andpresently to be described,

is very similar to that previously described.

The construction comprises a base I00 of substantial thickness embodying a circumscribing upstanding flange IM and an annular flange I02. The base I00 includes legs I03 for mounting of the valve upon the dash. v g A port I04 is formed in the base having branched ports I05 and I00 and a similar port I01 is provided, having ports I08 and I09, each of the ports I05--I06 and I08--I09 opening upon the upper face of the base I00. An annular recess H0 is also formed in theupper face of the baseI00, forming communication with an .exhaust port lI0a.

A disk valve I II is rotatably seated within the upstanding flange IOI andcomprises a port I I2 and a similar port II3. Each of the ports H2 and H3 includes a tapering recessed groove H4 and 4a respectively. The underface of the valve III has a recess II5 complemental to the recess H0, and further includes recesses I I5a and H5 complemental to the ports H2 and H3 of the valve.

The disk valve III is of a thickness less than the height of the flange IOI affording aseat for a rabbetedbottom wall H6 of an air, chamber II I. The chamber II'I comprises a flange H8 adapted to seat upon the flange I02 and be secured thereto by bolts or otherwise.

The air chamber II'I includes an inlet port H9 and air inlet ports I20I2I adapted to register with ports H2 and H3, respectively, at times.

The wall IN is cut away as at I22 a suitable distance of its circumference to permit movement ofanoperating handle. I23 integrally connected with the valve I I I.

The port I 04, is connected by means of pipe l24ywith cylinder I25 and port I0! is connected with cylinder I25 by pipe I21.

The operation in this form of valve is substantially as previously described, that is to say, rotation of the handle I23 ina counterclockwise direction will admit air to the cylinder I25 by way of pipe I24 to lower the fifth wheel I26 and clockwise rotation of the handle I23 will admit air to the cylinder to raise the fifth wheel, by

Way of pipe I28.

While I have shown and described a preferre construction and application of the valve to conflange, a pair of air ports in the base, each port having branched ports opening upon the valve,

the valve having ports in registry with the branched ports of the base at times, an air pres sure chamber fixed to the flange, the air pressure chamber having an axial hubdefining a bore for receiving a hub of the disk valve therethrough and further having air ports in the bottom wall thereof for registry withports of the disk valve at times, a reciprocable valve within the hub of the disk valve, aligned ports between the hub of the air chamber and the hub of the disk valve, said reciprocable valve having an axial port terminating in laterally extended ports, one of the ports adapted to register with aligned ports of the hubs of the air chamber and disk upon reciprocation of the reciprocating valve, and a port formed in the base adapted to align with the other laterally extended port upon reciprocation of the valve. g

2. The structure of claim 1, in which a single control lever effects operation of the disk and reciprocating valves.

3. A valve for control of landing gear of air craft comprising a base having an annular upstanding flange, a disk valve rotatably mounted upon the upper face of the base within the flange, a pair of air ports in the base, each porthaving branched ports opening upon the valve, the valve having ports in registrywith the branched ports of the base at times, an air pressure chamber fixed to the flange, the air pressure chamber having an axial hub defining a bore for receiving a hub of the disk valve therethrough and further having air ports in the bottom wall thereof for registry with ports of the disk valve at times, a reciprccable valve within the hub of the disk valve, aligned ports between the hub of the air shamber and the hub of the disk valve, said reciprocable valve having an axial port terminating in laterally extended ports, one of the ports adapted to register with aligned ports of the hubs of the air chamber and disk upon reciprocation of the reciprocating valve and a port formed in the base adapted to align with the other laterally extended port upon reciprocation of the valve, a cap member upon the air chamber rotatable therearound, the cap member being secured to the hub of the disk valve, said reciprocating valve having a squared shank extended through the base plate of the cap member and terminating within the cap member, a vertically swinging lever mounted within the cap member, the lever having a cam face cocperable with the upper end of the shank and means for holdingthe cap member against rotation, said lever including means for releasing the holding means upon downward swinging movement. g

4. The structure of claim '3 in which'the holding means comprises a reciprocable springpressed pin adapted to engage spaced apertures in the upper wall of the air chamber, a dog pivoted on the cap, one end engaging the pin, the other end being disposed in the path of movement of the lever.

5. Thestructure of claim 3, in which the ports of the disk valve comprise circumferentially extended recesses.

s. Thestructure otclaim 1 in whichthe base member comprises an exhaust port and a .cir-

cumferentially extended recess, the vdiskvalve having a recess complemental thereto'at times.

7. A valve for control of landing gear ofair craft comprising a base having an annular upstanding flange, a disk valve rotatably mounted upon the upper face of the base within the flange,

a pair of air ports in the base, each porthaving branched ports opening upon the valve, the valve having ports for registry with the branched ports of the base at times, an air pressure chamber having an axial hub defining a bore for receiv :15 fixed to the. flange, the air pressure chamber ing a hub of the disk valve therethrough,.andfv further having air ports in the bottom wall thereof for registry with 'ports of the disk valve at times, a reciprocable valve Within the hub of. the

disk valve, aligned ports between the hub of the air chamber and the hub of the disk valve, said reciprocable valve having an axial port termihating in laterally extended ports, one of the ports adapted to register with aligned ports of the hubs of the air chamber and disk upon reciprocation of the reciprocating valve, said base hav- I ing a downwardly extended boss, ports formed 8. In a Valve for control of a taxiing wheel of an aircraft comprising a base having a pair of air ports including branched ports, said portsopening upon the upper faceoi the base member, the base having an upstanding circumscribing flange, a disk valve oscillatably seated within the flange, air-operating handle integrally connected with the; valve, an '1 air chamber mounted above and in snug engagement with'the I upper face of'the disk valve, said chamber hav-,

ing an air intake port, the lower face of the chamber having a pair. of ports, the disk valve having a pair of arcuately shaped ports adapted to register with the last named ports and one of x the branched ports of the basemember, an armately disposed recess in the underside of the disk a valve adapted to register with a similarly :dis-

posed port of the'base member, and an'exhaust' port in communication with the last named ports.

9. The structure of claim 8 in whichi'the arcuately disposed ports of thedisk valve include tapering extensions. l i v. p CHARLES -E. WEAVER. 

